Hayes Mansion
Encyclopedia
The Hayes Mansion is a hotel
resort in San Jose, California
, United States. It was constructed originally as a mansion
and has been referred to as one of the best examples of late 19th-century Mediterranean Revival architecture the Santa Clara Valley
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Originally the residence of the sprawling estate of the Hayes family, the mansion replaced the family’s wooden English Baroque
style house that burned to the ground in 1899. In 1903, architect George Page was commissioned to build, if not a fireproof structure, then one featuring the latest fire safety
features of the day.
After the patriarch of the Hayes family, Anson Hayes, died, the family relocated from Wisconsin
to California
. Anson's widow, Mary,
eventually remarried a San Jose attorney named Thomas Chynoweth.
The new mansion was intended to provide a triple residence for Mary Chynoweth and the growing families of her two sons (Everis A. Hayes
and Jay Orly Hayes), although Mary died in July of 1903 before the house was completed in November of the same year.
The 41000 square feet (3,809 m²) Mediterranean
villa expresses the extravagance of an era during which the rich and prominent lived and entertained in a grand style. Exotic woods, imported marble
and ornate stained glass windows decorate the rooms of a building designed in the shape of a Maltese Cross
. A long center section containing an 18-foot (5.45 m) wide solarium
connects the south wing with the north wing. A loggia
connects the east wing with the west wing. Although it is not evident, the walls are double brick
with stucco
coating. As a result of the fire that destroyed the earlier home, the design of the Hayes Mansion included many fire-safety features. Throughout the house there are fire hose
cabinets that connect to water tanks on the third floor. The kitchen was located in a separate building and connected to the mansion with a glass and marble plant conservatory
.
Early in its history, the property operated in a completely self-sufficient manner, with its own power plant located on the grounds, as well as a post office
, railroad station, carriage stop, lodgings for 40 ranch hands and even a chapel. The family also grew their own fruits and vegetables and raised their own livestock. In this idyllic setting, the Hayes brothers, Everis and Jay, raised their families, became prominent politicians, helped develop the Santa Clara Valley fruit industry and became the publishers of the newspaper San Jose Mercury. As evidence of their political influence, three U.S. Presidents have visited the mansion.
After the Hayes family sold the property during the 1950s, the building remained vacant for some time and then became dilapidated. Purchased by the City of San Jose during the 1990s, the property was renovated and expanded to its present state. The building now contains 33000 ft2 of meeting space and 214 guest rooms and is surrounded by a 20 acres (8.1 ha) park.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
resort in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, United States. It was constructed originally as a mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
and has been referred to as one of the best examples of late 19th-century Mediterranean Revival architecture the Santa Clara Valley
Santa Clara Valley
The Santa Clara Valley is a valley just south of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California in the United States. Much of Santa Clara County and its county seat, San José, are in the Santa Clara Valley. The valley was originally known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight for its high concentration...
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Originally the residence of the sprawling estate of the Hayes family, the mansion replaced the family’s wooden English Baroque
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
style house that burned to the ground in 1899. In 1903, architect George Page was commissioned to build, if not a fireproof structure, then one featuring the latest fire safety
Fire safety
Fire safety refers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage, alert those in a structure to the presence of a fire in the event one occurs, better enable those threatened by a fire to survive, or to reduce the...
features of the day.
After the patriarch of the Hayes family, Anson Hayes, died, the family relocated from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Anson's widow, Mary,
eventually remarried a San Jose attorney named Thomas Chynoweth.
The new mansion was intended to provide a triple residence for Mary Chynoweth and the growing families of her two sons (Everis A. Hayes
Everis A. Hayes
Everis Anson Hayes was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Hayes attended the public schools....
and Jay Orly Hayes), although Mary died in July of 1903 before the house was completed in November of the same year.
The 41000 square feet (3,809 m²) Mediterranean
Mediterranean Revival Style architecture
The Mediterranean Revival was an eclectic design style that was first introduced in the United States about the end of the nineteenth century, and became popular during the 1920s and 1930s...
villa expresses the extravagance of an era during which the rich and prominent lived and entertained in a grand style. Exotic woods, imported marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
and ornate stained glass windows decorate the rooms of a building designed in the shape of a Maltese Cross
Maltese cross
The Maltese cross, also known as the Amalfi cross, is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is one of the National symbols of Malta...
. A long center section containing an 18-foot (5.45 m) wide solarium
Solarium
Solarium may refer to:* Similar to a Sunroom, a room built largely of glass to afford exposure to the sun. Solariums have glass roofs , unlike sunrooms...
connects the south wing with the north wing. A loggia
Loggia
Loggia is the name given to an architectural feature, originally of Minoan design. They are often a gallery or corridor at ground level, sometimes higher, on the facade of a building and open to the air on one side, where it is supported by columns or pierced openings in the wall...
connects the east wing with the west wing. Although it is not evident, the walls are double brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
with stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
coating. As a result of the fire that destroyed the earlier home, the design of the Hayes Mansion included many fire-safety features. Throughout the house there are fire hose
Fire hose
A fire hose is a high-pressure hose used to carry water or other fire retardant to a fire to extinguish it. Outdoors, it is attached either to a fire engine or a fire hydrant. Indoors, it can be permanently attached to a building's standpipe or plumbing system...
cabinets that connect to water tanks on the third floor. The kitchen was located in a separate building and connected to the mansion with a glass and marble plant conservatory
Conservatory (greenhouse)
A conservatory is a room having glass roof and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom...
.
Early in its history, the property operated in a completely self-sufficient manner, with its own power plant located on the grounds, as well as a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, railroad station, carriage stop, lodgings for 40 ranch hands and even a chapel. The family also grew their own fruits and vegetables and raised their own livestock. In this idyllic setting, the Hayes brothers, Everis and Jay, raised their families, became prominent politicians, helped develop the Santa Clara Valley fruit industry and became the publishers of the newspaper San Jose Mercury. As evidence of their political influence, three U.S. Presidents have visited the mansion.
After the Hayes family sold the property during the 1950s, the building remained vacant for some time and then became dilapidated. Purchased by the City of San Jose during the 1990s, the property was renovated and expanded to its present state. The building now contains 33000 ft2 of meeting space and 214 guest rooms and is surrounded by a 20 acres (8.1 ha) park.